President Masoud Pezeshkian ordered the restoration of internet access across Iran on Tuesday, May 26, 2026 [1].
The decision ends a prolonged communication blackout used to stifle information flow during a period of war and civil unrest. The restoration of connectivity is a critical step in returning the population to pre-restriction digital status [1, 2, 3].
Reports on the exact length of the outage vary slightly between sources. Some records indicate the blackout lasted 87 days [2], while other reports state it lasted 88 days [3]. The government's move aims to end the total block on international connectivity that had been in place to manage the internal security situation [4].
While some reports suggest a gradual return to previous service levels [1], other sources state that full access will be restored within 24 hours [3]. The order covers the entire national territory, meaning users in all provinces should regain access to the global web [1, 2, 3].
The blackout had severely limited the ability of citizens to communicate and share information. Sahand, speaking to BBC Portuguese, said, "If just one person can get access to the internet, I think we have succeeded and that it was worth it" [5].
This restoration follows a period of intense restrictions where the state controlled the flow of information to prevent the coordination of protests [4]. The move by Pezeshkian signals a shift in the administration's approach to managing the digital landscape after months of total isolation [1, 2].
“President Masoud Pezeshkian ordered the restoration of internet access across Iran”
The restoration of internet services follows a strategic blackout used by the Iranian government to maintain control during active conflict and civil disobedience. By ending the 87-to-88-day outage, the administration is transitioning from a state of emergency communication control to a more standard model of digital surveillance and regulation.
